PAPER SELECTED

Neutrophil immune functions of blad heterozygous animals

Bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD) is a primary immune deficiency of cattle caused by absence of CD18 adherence molecule on neutrophils due to a single mutation. The consequence of this mutation for neutrophil functions of homozygous animals is well known. Our experiments were concentrated on some neutrophil immunological properties of heterozygous cows. The CD18 antigen expression was found 17% lower in average and the respiratory burst of neutrophils measured by quantitative iodenitrotetrazolium dye reduction (MT) test was significantly lower than those of healthy animals. The adherence of neutrophils to plastic surface was lower only in some animals